Martin Jessopp (Riders Motorcycles BMW) took a convincing pole position for the Suncity Group Macau motorcycle Grand Prix – 49th Edition on Saturday when he became the only rider to dip into the 2.24 bracket. He set his time of 2.24.387 midway through the session, and though several riders tried to match it as he circulated around the 6.2km Guia Circuit, only Michael Rutter (Penz 13.com BMW) came close, at 2.25.524.

“I’ve been on the front row a few times at Macau, but never on pole. I couldn’t be happier,” said Jessopp.

Rutter was also the only rider in the 2.25 bracket, but behind him came a whole clutch of contenders filling out the next second.

Leading the way with a superb lap of 2.26.269 was 28-year-old Peter Hickman (Briggs Equipment BMW) on only his second visit to Macau, and challenging the accepted wisdom that it takes a minimum of three years to learn the circuit. Hickman was delighted with his progress after going three seconds quicker than he had on Thursday’s opening qualifying session.

Fourth fastest was 2013 winner Ian Hutchinson (Paul Bird Kawasaki) with a lap of 2.26.791, right in the middle of an evenly-matched group of potential 2015 winners. Honda Racing’s duo of John McGuinness (2.26.810) and Conor Cummins (2.27.030) neatly bracketed Gary Johnson’s 2.26.879 on another of the Penz13.com BMW’s.

With Horst Saiger (Saiger-Heidger Macau Race Team Kawasaki), Stuart Easton (SMT Booth Yamaha) and Lee Johnston (East Coast Construction BMW) rounding out the top ten, the scene is set for a classic race on Saturday afternoon.

When the grid forms up for the start at 15.05 local time there will be four previous winners in the top ten (Rutter, McGuinness, Hutchinson and Easton) and six other riders easily capable of taking victory in the 12-lap Suncity Group Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix – 49th Edition.